Zionsville Architectural Review Committee (ZARC)

Zionsville Architectural Review Committee minutes of the May 15, 2012 special meeting In lieu of the regular monthly meeting, members of the Zionsville Architectural Review Committee held a special planning session at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in the loft/studio of committee member Tom Casalini, 10 ½ N. Main Street, Zionsville. Those attending included committee chair, David Rausch, and committee members Lisa Bick, Chris Bucher, Tom Casalini, Eileen Davis, Betsy Harris and Andra Walters. Dave presided. Lisa moved that the May 15, 2012 meeting agenda be approved. Andra seconded the motion which carried. Chris moved that the minutes of the April 10, 2012 special meeting be approved as mailed to the committee. Tom seconded the motion which carried. Discussion concerning the marketing of the façade rehabilitation program followed. The consensus was that the initial marketing event held in June 2011 was successful. Visibility was raised during the informal morning held on a Saturday outside the Lowder building, a recent project on Main Street. A number of building owners attended along with representatives of the Zionsville Town Council. Two walking tours of ZARC projects were conducted; before and after photos of some of the projects were on view. Passersby going to and from the Zionsville Farmers’ Market were also attracted. (Perhaps the magnet was the refreshments served.) While a success, it was stressed that other marketing strategies need development. Hurdles include the facts that unlike similar projects in other municipalities, Zionsville is not the county seat, does not have a structured government with a mayor and does not have a historic district. Also, finding the ZARC project on the town website is difficult at best. Another challenge is the sizable number of absentee landlords in the downtown business district. Tom, who is chairing the marketing committee, noted the importance of sharing our story with these people and helping them realize that their investment in the ZARC project, is potentially an investment in their profitability. Conversation also focused on the phenomenon that the committee does more reacting than acting. Members feel that fact needs to be reversed. Talk followed on two components important in reversing the above: 1) Building a collaborative enthusiasm 2) and creating a streetscape of what our downtown -- a real downtown in a real town -- should look like. In order to build enthusiasm beyond how the committee feels about the façade rehabilitation program, members of other town entities will be encouraged to come to our meetings. Possibilities include representatives of the Economic Development Commission, the Redevelopment Commission and the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce. Inquiries will be made into the preservation and architectural departments at Ball State University to determine if there would be interest in creating a class project with the downtown Zionsville business district as the subject. A model such as this created by a third party could be less threatening and a useful tool for those trying to envision the possibilities of a streetscape. There being no further business, Chris moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Eileen seconded the motion which carried. Respectfully submitted, Betsy Harris, secretary Next meeting: 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 26 in the Fireplace Room of the Zionsville Town Hall.